Beginners Hunt Club helps create future conservationistsLITTLE ROCK -- Hunting is a way of life, for many it's passed down from one generation to the next. But what if you don't have anyone willing or able to be your mentor? The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is accepting applications from anyone wanting to learn more about hunting and the outdoors to participate in a special hands-on learning experience called the "Beginners Hunt Club." Anyone 6 or older is welcome to apply, but special prefere...

RHS volleyball falls to SouthsideThe Russellville Lady Cyclones were defeated by the Fort Smith Southside Lady Mavericks on Thursday inside Cyclone Arena by a score of 22-25, 19-25 and 17-25. "We had a strong start, but we have to learn how to finish," Russellville first-year head coach Ashley Jackson said. "We are becoming more of a scrappy team, but still have our work cut out for us." Stat leaders were Hannah Jones with nine kills. Olivia Alford had six kills, two aces. Ka...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Suns to host Green and Gold scrimmageThe Arkansas Tech volleyball team will host an intrasquad scrimmage at 6 p.m. Sunday in Tucker Coliseum. The scrimmage is open to the public, and fans are encouraged to attend to get a preview of the 2017 Golden Suns. The Green and Gold Scrimmage comes after two weeks of preseason, which included practice, conditioning, team-bonding activities and closed scrimmages. "I have been really pleased with practice," head coach Kristy Bayer said. "One...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Lady Whirlwinds topple Conway, now 2-0The Russellville Lady Whirlwinds defeated the Conway Blue Lady Wampus Cats 25-10, 25-10, 25-10 on Wednesday inside Whirlwind Gymnasium to improve to 2-0 on the season. Russellville head coach Cindy Williams said she is looking forward to the future with this year's Lady Whirlwinds. 'This is a team you will want to come and watch," she said. "They play so well together and do so many things right. They are a great group and really are represent...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Golden Suns picked eighth in GACWith little over a week until the opening of the 2017 season, the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns cross country team has been selected to finish eighth in the Great American Conference coaches' poll that was released on Thursday. Coming off a 2016 season that witnessed the Suns finish seventh at the GAC Championships, Arkansas Tech returns four of its top five runners from last season's team. Sophomore Cami Hedstrom headlines the returning runners, ...

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ATU Athletic CommunicationsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Bass named CSI First Tee Participant of MonthCommunity Service, Inc. (CSI) recently named Garin Bass as the August First Tee Character Development Program Participant of the Month. Bass, the son of Jamee and Robert Bass of Russellville, is in second grade and is homeschooled. CSI is coached by certified level II First Tee Coach Sam Taylor. "Garin started the program earlier this year and has shown determination to be a better player," said Taylor. "He comes to class with a willingness to...

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Courier sports staffThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Pottsville tennis opens season with tri-matchesThe Pottsville Apaches kicked off their tennis season with back-to-back tri-matches recently. First, Pottsville hopped down the road to the RHS Cyclones tennis courts and faced Russellville and Conway Wampus Cats. Pottsville won 12-of-17 matches played. Next, the Apaches headed to Arkansas Tech University (ATU) to take on the Farmington Cardinals and the Dardanelle Sand Lizards. In that tri-match, the Apaches won 12-of-14 matches played. "I co...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Atkins Lions Club hear about Red Devils footballTHE COURIER / Submitted Atkins Lions Club hears about Red Devils football Atkins Red Devils head football coach Tommy Cody speaks to the Lions Club about the football program. Cody said the 28-man team has "all good players." Cody also spoke about the current discussion surrounding football and head injuries. Cody said the team keeps a physical therapist on the sidelines at every game, and players are not allowed to play if it is suspected the...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Local takes fifth at World ChampionshipOKLAHOMA CITY -- Jenna Meimerstorf of Russellville earned fifth place during the 2017 Built Ford Tough American Quarter Horse Youth Association World Championship Show on Aug. 12. Meimerstorf showed the American Quarter Horse Ten Surprizes owned by Meimerstorf. The 2011 Palomino Gelding, sired by Hang Ten Surprize and out of Holly O Jay, was bred by Rosanne Sternberg of Aubrey, Texas. In Level Two and Level Three Reining, 123 entries competed ...

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Courier sports staffThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

RJHS volleyball notches first winThe Russellville Junior High Lady Whirlwinds opened its season with a 25-14, 25-20 victory over the North Little Rock Lady Charging Wildcats on Monday inside Whirlwind Gymnasium. "Excellent play all the way around," Russellville head coach Cindy Williams said after the match. "The back row of Emy Moreno, Lizzy Callaway and Maddie Wojtkowski were on fire. Lilly Ruston finished the match off with a perfect 'animal' ball." Williams also complimen...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Sports briefsDover faculty vs. students volleyball game The Dover Student vs. Faculty Volleyball game is 2:30 p.m. on Friday at the Dover Gym. The cost to play is $3, the cost to watch is $1. Students interested in playing need to sign up with Mrs. Heffley and pay $3 by Thursday. Corps mobility impaired hunting applications due Sept. 1 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will accept applications through Sept. 1 for the 2017 special deer hunts that provide acc...

Local to compete in South Africa Bass World ChampionshipUS Angling recently announced Fred Roumbanis of Russellville will be a member of the 2017 USA Bass team. US Angling will send a team to South Africa to compete on the Vaal River Oct. 2-8. The USA Bass team will represent the United States at the Bass World Championship competing for gold, silver and bronze medals. The event is sanctioned by the Confederation Internationale de Peche Sportive (CIPS), which represents 50 million competitive angle...

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Courier sports staffThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

RHS announces HOF inducteesBY TRAVIS SIMPSON sports@couriernews.com The Russellville Athletic Department recently announced the 2017 Hall of Fame and Volunteer of the Year inductees. Nate Turner, Cale Fulsom and Matthew Campbell will be inducted into the hall of fame at 11:30 a.m. on Sept. 29 at the Hall of Fame Banquet inside the lobby of the Russellville Center for the Arts. "We are excited about the three newest members to the Hall of Fame," Russellville athletic dir...

Mullins named chair of Division II football committeeATU Athletic Communications Steve Mullins, director of athletics at Arkansas Tech University, is serving as chair of the NCAA Division II Football Committee during the 2017-18 academic year. Mullins has been a member of the national committee since the 2013-14 academic year. "It is an honor to chair this important committee," Mullins said. "This committee has the opportunity to continue to make Division II football a unique experience for stud...

Outdoor hotline airs ThursdayThe Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) is partnering with the Arkansas Educational Television Network (AETN) to produce a special call-in show and share information about hunting, fishing and conservation education in Arkansas. "Outdoor Hotline" will air from 7-8 p.m. Thursday on AETN. The show will be divided into three segments, each focusing on a separate aspect of the AGFC's efforts to create memorable outdoors experiences and mainta...

Is a crossbow in the future? You never say neverJONESBORO -- I've always been an outspoken critic to the crossbow, I'll admit to that. But in order to understand my narrow-minded viewpoint, you have to realize that I got my start with archery way back when archery wasn't cool. Killing a deer with a bow was the ultimate challenge, as compound bows were one notch above a recurve bow and the deer population was nearly non-existent. Shooting a bow is fun, or at least I think it is. Shooting a c...

Now's the time to start scouting hunting areasNot a year has gone by that I have not received a few calls, emails or text about public hunting lands in our part of the Arkansas River Valley. It seems that the growing popularity of both deer and duck hunting has more and more folks getting involved. That is great news for the future of hunting in the Natural State. The only drawback being as more hunters get involved, the more crowded some areas become during hunting season. But luckily, w...

Hocker signs with BuccaneersTAMPA BAY -- Former Russellville Cyclones and Arkansas Razorbacks kicker Zach Hocker was picked up by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers one day after the team cut its kicker Roberto Aguayo. Hocker, who is the all-time leading scorer for the Razorbacks, was a seventh-round draft pick for the Washington Redskins in 2014 but was cut during the preseason. Hocker kicked for the Saints in 2015 but was cut after going 10-for-14 on field goals and 12-of-13 on ...

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BY TRAVIS SIMPSON
sports@couriernews.comThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley